Who is better Mata, Cazorla or Silva?

The three Spanish midfielders are the gems of their respective teams, but who is the best?

The Premier League is privileged to have three such gifted footballers displaying their delicate artwork week in and week out. They are all uncannily similar, and equally important to their clubs.

David Silva won the title with Man City last year and was often spoke of, in certain circles, as the best player in the Premier League. He is a regular for the Spanish national team and pivotal in all things that Man City did well last season.

Juan Mata has arguably been the best, and most consistent performer, for Chelsea in a time when they were struggling with transition. This season he has reached even greater heights and is thriving in Chelsea’s fashionable forward triangle.

Yet, he still can’t get a start for his national team. Santia Cazorla was a summer purchase for Wenger but looks like he has played in England all his life. Arsenal fans love him already and he is higher up the pecking order for Spain than Mata. But who has been the best performer this season out of these three attacking Spanish gems?

Here are the statistics for games played in all competitions

Juan Mata - Games played - 13, Goals - 6, Assists - 5, Pass completion rate 88.4 per cent

Santi Cazorla - Games played - 14, Goals - 2, Assists - 2, Pass completion rate 87.8 per cent

David Silva - Games played - 14, Goals 0, Assists - 1, Pass completion rate 88.9 per cent

So this season in terms of productivity, Silva is clearly off the pace. He has yet to score a goal in the Premier League, or the Champions League, and only has one assist to his name. But, in Silva’s defence he hasn’t been afforded as much match time as his two rivals due to injury and Mancini’s rotation policy, although he does however record the highest pass completion rate (just).

Ruling him out, that leaves two, Mata and Cazorla. The pair are almost inseparable. Mata is the clear winner in terms of goals and assists, with three more than Cazorla in each department, an impressive statistic considering that Cazorla averages 0.8 more shot’s on goal per game.

When it comes to getting involved with the play Corzola receives and passes the ball far more. The Arsenal man has made 133 more passes than the Chelsea midfielder in the Premier League, and has a higher completion rate. In the Champions League Cazorla wins the passes again in terms of volume but, Mata just edges it on completion rate

It’s still too early in the season to make a decisive conclusion but, statistically so far I would say that Mata just about edges it over Corzola. But then again it depends what you are looking for from the players?

If its goals and assists Mata wins, if it’s involvement in the game Cazorla wins, but if it’s accurate passing then Silva just about wins.

Over to you… Who do you think is the better player?

image: © Ronnie Macdonald